Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: This ff was writing for the Bridgerton Gardens' Six Month Anniversary Exchange Extravaganza. Here we go for the third OS - that I actually wrote first!

Beta love to the great Cinnamonbun24 & p0linl0vePA, my deepest thanks to Coeurs_de_Coeurs who kept cheering me even though she had no idea whatsoever was checking her likes and dislikes since I was writing this crazy ff for her, and my kindest regards to the lovely ExistentialMalaises for her helpful input about the moodboard. 💜

Next part is still being written, so I'll see you soon! And as usual, happy reading!❤️

looking for something dumb to do

All is fair in love and war.

~for Jo,

Because you're an awesome, sweet person,

and I am dearly happy to know you and bask in you positive vibes!

I'm so glad you liked this chaotic Gregory and got all the little details I wove in as winks to your otp! 💜

He was not sure why, but he had thought that falling in love would be easy.

Easy as riding a bike, with a few bumps along the way — but determination would win in the end.

Easy as reaching a top shelf he wasn't supposed to access, but managed to anyway through sheer willpower and scraped knees.

Easy as tapping into his elder brother's alcohol without Anthony ever finding out — and blaming it on Colin anyway, if it ever happened.

All it needed was some courage, some willpower, and some ballsy recklessness.

Or so he had thought.

Because love, as he knew it — or thought he would, was nothing he had ever expected.

First of all, love was ugly. It reared its head when one least expected it, but it also made him feel angry, jealous, short-tempered in ways Gregory had never been. Had never hoped to be. Had never even heard about — wasn't love a lovely, powerful feeling, like everyone in his family had expressed so far?

As he waited under the tree, feeling like a fool, he groaned. Maybe his siblings had kept some things from him, on purpose. No one talked about desire, but he had definitely seen the smouldering looks spouses sometimes exchanged. Maybe that darkness he felt looming, bordering to consume him, was one of these things. That existed in love but were kept hidden, weren't mentioned, and meant to be kept private.

It made sense that love wouldn't be only pure, pristine, unmitigated feelings. He had just hoped he had known before. Been warned.

Because all Gregory had ever hoped for, was to find the one, to fall in love. But not this present headache.

Finally, he saw the curtain being pushed from the glass as the window opened.

"Couldn't you have come sooner?"

"I'm sorry," came the soft voice. "My uncle had a friend over, and I could not be excused."

He pinched his nose as he inhaled in. Sometimes Gregory forgot how very proper Lucy's family was, how very harped on principles they all were. Which was completely different from his own, oh so very informal. His mother had even left all of a sudden, yielding all authority to their older brother, and gone across the country to annoy his elder sister. Poor Eloise, who probably didn't expect her and wanted nothing less than their mother's help for planning her wedding.

And while he was throwing pebbles in the middle of the night on a girl's windows, his sister was probably up to her own antics. What had she said again? That she was taking up vlogging, or something? Well, she would have to find some else to help her, however, as Gregory was quite busy. Busy conquering — for all was fair in love and war, and he intended to win. But damn it all, it wasn't as simple as he had thought.

Oh, Gregory could have handled things in a better way. Maybe. Surely. But he seemed to lack his usual fair for matters of the heart. Especially since he had naively thought that it would all run smoothly enough. Wasn't his other half supposed to recognise him for her missing part and behave accordingly? But no, she was doing anything but this.

"Will you come down?" He tried to keep the impatience from his voice: it wasn't Lucy's fault that her family was annoying.

"I can't, they've closed the door and I don't have the key," she whispered, making him heave a sigh. Even her older brother, Richard or Roger something — who didn't live with her anymore, even he had the stupid keys. But of course, not Lucy.

What he wouldn't do for love. He looked at the tree, catching a branch to check if it would support his weight. It was not his habit to climb to girls' chambers at midnight.

Well, except for Lucy Abernathy, it seemed.

"Hang on, I'm coming," he informed her tightly.

"No, Gregory, you shouldn't—"

He was already halfway through. "Too late," he smirked at her concerned look.

"God help me, Bridgerton. You're nothing if not tenacious."

"I prefer steadfast, actually."

She dragged her hands across her tired face. "I would go with—"

"Lucy Abernathy," he scolded playfully. "I'm standing almost three stories above the ground because of you! Please don't make me laugh and lose my balance."

"Technically, you're standing there because you've decided on your own to come up here, you know."

"You, heartless woman!" Yet, she was anything but. Lucy was probably the nicest person Gregory had ever meet. And the easiest to joke with.

He had almost reached her, could see the weary smile that tugged at her pink lips. "Would you help me, Lucy?"

"I am helping you."

He grinned. She was right, the nice, brave girl that she was. "Further? Will you help me a bit more?"

"Won't you tell me first what's the new idea?"

Gregory took her extended hand, as she helped him get comfortable, or as much as he could, sitting on her windowsill. "Are you saying I braved the silent wait and the climbing — and you may still not agree to my plan?"

His life was definitely not going the way he had hoped to, since he had fallen in love. Here he was, in the middle of the night, freezing his ass off, shrewdly awaiting Lucy's answer.

"Oh, very well, I will. Explain your damn new plan," she grumbled, half-heartedly.

"Will you go out with me?"

"Excuse me?"

Truly amused, Gregory pushed back a strand of hair back behind her ear, smiling at her open-mouthed surprise. "For pretending."

She looked at him as if he was mad. "And you believe that will help you seduce Hermione?"

"She'll see me as a potential boyfriend that way," Gregory stated the familiar words he had come to believe. "Make her jealous, you know."

Lucy exhaled slowly. "Gregory... That's a dumb plan."

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too! I mean it," she threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "Gregory, she's not even interested in giving you the time of day. What makes you sure she'll be interested in you if we pretend to date?"

"Because that works. She's my soulmate, she'll have to feel something." Gregory was sure of it. It had worked for some of his siblings if he recalled. He hadn't understood it all at the time, but he was pretty sure that one or two love stories involved some fake-dating, or making the other jealous. That's how Daphne had married Simon, he was pretty sure of it.

Lucy scoffed dubiously at that. "I don't believe in a single person being our one true love, so this is not an argument to make me side with you."

"Well, then. Maybe I'm wrong. But will you help me?"

"Fine. Fine, I'll help you," Lucy glared at him. "But I'm warning you—"

Gregory held her small hands in his, interrupting her with a warm squeeze. "Thank you, you're a true friend, Lucy!"

An indulgent smile on her lips, Lucy shook her head at him. "If that is all, you should go before my uncle finds you. He'll be gone in two days. We can plan it all more properly then."

Her charming gaze met his, and it dawned on Gregory that he had never stood so close to Lucy. He was able to see all her facial features — and it appeared that she was really pretty. He took in her soft face, the soft curve of her cheeks, and the shape of her chin, the column of her throat. How could he have not seen it before?

Her familiar fragrance, which he should have been used to, surrounded him, making him wish he could hug her against him, dwell in it, go into her bedroom and maybe even-

He jumped down the last branch with a soft thud, took a last look at Lucy who was checking he had landed safely to close her window and get back to bed. If only he could have stayed next to her and talked with her all night long…

Gregory frowned. What was wrong with him?

"St Clair!" Gregory caught up with his friend as the field emptied.

"Bridgerton." Gareth wiped his forehead, closed his bag and slung it on his shoulder. "What can I do for you?"

"You're pretty decent with a camera, aren't you?"

The other boy shrugged, a bored expression on his face. "I guess so."

"Well, so here's the thing," started Gregory, wondering if he was making a mistake or not. "My sister wants to start vlogging, and I'll be kinda busy. I was wondering if you could help her instead…"

Gareth froze. He was very silent, which was quite unusual; the boy was discreet, but he always had a witty answer ready.

"I'm asking you to return that friendly favour you owe me for that—"

"Yeah, I remember. Fine." Gareth ran his hand through his hair. "I'll do it, Bridgerton."

"Sweet! Would you like to—"

"No."

Gregory raised a brow. "You don't even know what I'm going to say."

Gareth groaned. "It's still no. I have to get going, but give your sister my number. I'll help her if she's okay with me replacing you."

Gregory stared at him for a full minute before shrugging. Gareth was a bit strange today, but it did happen whenever someone mentioned his father. Gregory couldn't remember for the life of him if that had been the case today.

Checking his phone, he swore at the time and started running. Lucy would be waiting for him to go over the first phase of their plan. Plus, it seemed a good idea to avoid seeing her at night time for the time being.

"She didn't even glance my way!"

"Told you!"

"She didn't care!"

"Told you."

"She doesn't hate me… She just didn't see me…"

Lucy sighed. "Told you…" After a while, it wasn't funny anymore to point out how right she had been.

Gregory sat down dejectedly. "Does she even know I exist?"

"Of course she does! She knows we're friends," Lucy said, with a soft smile. Poor thing, he really was trying. Maybe a bit too much.

"Is that all she knows about me?"

She bit her lip. Hermione had specifically told Lucy that she was not interested in Gregory. He was not her style, she had said. Way too nice, and not enough of a man-whore, she meant to Lucy's exasperated opinion.

Because other than these specifics things, Gregory was totally Hermione's usual boyfriend: charming, handsome, clever. Lucy couldn't find any fault in him, she really believed that all her friends needed was a chance to know each other better.

"Maybe we can have a party?"

Gregory glared at her. "I'm not having a party, my sister's still home and Anthony will have my head anyway."

"I didn't meant at your place specifically."

He laughed. "Did you mean yours then?"

Lucy swatted his arm playfully. "Oh stop it. You're being a spoilsport. Let me think. All you guys need is to spend some time together."

"And a party, with loud music, alcohol, and people screaming is definitely the perfect answer…"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but you can find some quality time even in a noisy party. Plus it will be easier to get Hermione there!"

Gregory nodded slowly. "You actually have a point. I prefer actual dates, but beggars can't be choosers, I guess."

She shook her head at his tone. Lucy knew for a fact that Gregory was no stranger to quality time during parties. For God's sake, he had even fallen in love with Hermione at a party. It would be bad form of him to dismiss his her idea.

"Don't be so blue. We'll find a solution, don't worry."

He smiled at her. "I wouldn't trust anyone else, Lucy."

His gaze tingled over hers, raising a warmness in her chest that she had grown used to, that she loved when Gregory was around. She was so lucky to have such good friends.

"You can't be serious," Hyacinth cried.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He felt awful, but really, she would be alright with Gareth. "But I really like this girl, Hy. Plus Gareth's way more skilled than me, it makes sense."

Hyacinth sniffed angrily at him. "I'm gonna tell mom when she comes back."

Gregory rolled his eyes. By the time their mother would be back, Hyacinth would have way more things to complain about, he was sure. "Why don't you ask Felicity, then?"

She bit her lip, and Gregory sighed. "What did you fight about this time?"

"We didn't exactly fight, but I'd like to not do something with her for a change."

Gregory snorted. "How is that even possible?"

"Fine, it's a surprise for her, and she can't know."

That made more sense, making him grin. "You playing matchmaker?"

She leered dangerously. "In a way, brother. In a way."

"How long should I keep him busy?" She leaned against the wall, pursing her lips.

Felicity raised her eyes from her notes. "Just long enough for me to make Hyacinth realise what a catch Gareth St. Clair is," she grinned deviously.

Lucy tilted her head. "Don't you feel bad for him?"

Her friend bit her lip as the bell rang. "Haven't you read Romeo and Juliet, Lucy?"

"Of course I have!"

"Well," started Felicity, "Romeo thinks he's in love with Rosaline. But that's only before he sees Juliet. In the same way, I believe Gregory only thinks he loves Hermione… But at the end of the day, he really doesn't."

It made sense, in a way, however, Lucy wasn't sure she agreed. Hermione was a beautiful girl, but Gregory wasn't a stupid lovesick puppy. She smirked a bit. "Who are you trying to make feel better, you or me?"

Felicity laughed. "You. I've known Gregory since we were kids. Trust me, Hermione is not the girl for him."

This time, Lucy frowned. "What do you mean? She's great!"

They sat down, waiting for their teacher to arrive, Felicity putting her notes away while Lucy awaited her answer. For all her faults, she loved Hermione like the sister she never had.

"I know she's your best friend," Felicity started gently. "But they wouldn't match."

"But they could," argued Lucy. "With a little help and a push in the right direction, I'm certain they could. It's why I've agreed to help Gregory in the first place."

Sighing, Felicity shook her head. "I know you believe so. But Hermione is not interested in settling down, and Gregory is looking for a serious partner, so how is it going to work out?"

"Hermione doesn't know yet that she needs someone like Gregory. Someone kind, who will really like her for her. Not for what she can give him," Lucy answered. Because that was the truth. She was truly tired to find her friend in such a sorry state after yet another bad break-up. Really, Hermione needed someone nice for a change. Someone like Gregory Bridgerton.

"She'll never settle for a guy like Gregory, and you know it."

Annoyed, Lucy crossed her arms on her chest. "She would if she knew him a bit better. She deserves to be loved properly. We all do."

"I agree. But she isn't ready yet for that. Gregory is." Felicity shrugged. "And nevertheless, Gregory is the fourth Bridgerton brother. He's not an interesting prospect for Hermione."

"Are you accusing my friend of being canny?"

Lucy realised how stupid she sounded as the words left her mouth. Although she wasn't one to revel in attention, Hermione was not one to indulge in selfless relationships. Despite his family name, and his family's assets, Gregory was no rich heir; his elder brother was.

Felicity patted her hand in a friendly way as she saw Lucy understand what she had hinting at all along.

Lucy sighed. She loved Hermione, really, she did. Hermione had been her only friend for so many years, as they had attended the same posh school. But Felicity was right. Hermione was attracted to strong pedigree and powerful status. She wasn't always like that, but her first love story had been such a disaster, she was now a bit jaded. Lucy had hoped Gregory could help Hermione overcome her fears. But maybe Felicity was right. It was too soon, way too early. Her heart still needed time to heal, mend it all.

"Sometimes I wonder how you could have been allowed to grade-skip," Felicity joked with a wry smile.

Lucy shrugged, amused. "Unfortunately, my maths skills have nothing to do with my social skills."

"Well, it's actually pretty common not to expect others to think differently from yourself. Since you are not interested in dating a boy whose father is an important figure, you don't understand why she is."

"You make it sound so bad," muttered Lucy. It was all true, but it made Hermione seem shallow. Maybe she wasn't being fair to Gregory by agreeing to help him win Hermione. Maybe she only stirred him up for disappointment. "What about Gregory, then?"

Felicity's fingers gripped hers in confidence, before letting go as the teacher finally entered the classroom. "Trust me, Lucy. It will all work out."

Lucy nodded graciously. She wasn't sure she could do anything else.

"I love it!"

Lucy turned on her heels as she refilled yet another fruit punch glass. "I'm glad!"

"How did you manage all this?" Gregory went on, truly impressed by his friend.

In a little under three hours, she had found a place, decorated it, filled it with food and drinks — and called half the school over. What mad skills she would have, if only her family allowed her to be freer.

"Well, once Hermione got my brother's keys, it was a piece of cake," she winked at him.

"You're truly the best!"

"That I am," she gloated, sticking the tip of her tongue out.

Hermione choose that moment to come rushing forward. "Oh this is my song!" She grabbed her friend's hand. "Lucy, Lucy! Come on, come dance with me!"

"Oh, I shouldn't!" Lucy laughed as she was dragged away.

Gregory grinned, watching her slender form sauntering through the other girls and boys. She tilted her head back, bursting with laughter at something Hermione had said in her ear. She was having so much fun, that Gregory wondered why she always stayed to help when she could be having fun like a regular teenager.

"Lucy's a great dancer," whispered Felicity. "Hermione is the sexy one, but Lucy is the graceful one. All these ballet lessons she didn't have a choice in taking, I guess…"

Gregory moved to face her. Felicity's broad grin indicated that she knew something he didn't. "Should I be scared about what you obviously know that I don't?"

"Yep."

He gave her a glass, nodding slowly as he sipped from his own.

"Where's Hyacinth?"

There was a small accusation in there that he definitely deserved. He answered truthfully. "With Francesca. I chose on purpose a day I knew they had something planned."

"You're a terrible brother!"

"I'm looking out for her! She's my baby sister!"

"Don't you mean you're looking out for everyone else? She's a dangerous one, your sister," Gareth had joined them, sporting a mocking grimace.

"She can take care of herself, I agree," Felicity surmised.

Gregory shrugged. "It's not because she can that she must. Plus, this is my party, for me to enjoy. We can throw another one for her in which I'll be the vigilante."

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Don't you mean it's Abernathy's party? She's not your girlfriend yet, is she?"

"She is, kinda…" At Felicity's knowing smirk, Gregory raised his hands in the hair. "Look, it's complicated, okay?"

"Complicated or not," drawled Gareth with a last look at the dancing area, "I would join my girlfriend soon if I were you Bridgerton."

The tune blaring had changed, yet still, Lucy was laughing with Hermione, who gyrated next to her. Her long hair was falling down her back, the shape of her nape appearing as she twirled once or twice. Suddenly, she seemed so different, so free, so extraordinarily familiar but amazingly dissimilar at the same time.

As a strong pull, a certain awareness raised in his chest, Gregory abruptly knew he had been wrong all along.

It was never Hermione. It never was.

Lucy closed her book, with a small impatient push. Gregory braced himself; it meant she had grown wary of waiting for his answers. Soon enough, she would be asking what to do next. And for once, Gregory had no bloody idea. Were any of his siblings in love with their best friend? Did any of his brothers pretend to date their best friend to get to another girl which they had thought they loved but clearly didn't?

"Why are you being so weird?"

She was watching him over her notes, biting her bottom lip. He had never before thought anything much about that specific action – she was Lucy, had lovely, enticing lips. It was a given that she was pretty and charming, like every other girl: Gregory believed in true love but he wasn't blind. And that had been the bottom line of it all: he was in love with Hermione. Or so he had thought. God, how could he have been so stupid?

"Gregory?"

"How old are you, Lucy?"

She seemed baffled by the question. Gregory had never thought he'd actually get the nerve to ask. But there, he had. It had been on his mind for the past few days, nagging at him. He knew she was younger than most his classmates — was she even Hy's age? Dear God. He would throttle himself if he could.

"I don't understand why you're asking me this. I thought we would debrief the party?" Lucy's eyes stared at him in confusion.

Gregory rubbed his forehead, tiredly. "It was a great party, wasn't it?"

"I know right, it was a blast!" Lucy beamed at him, happily.

"Thank you again," he mumbled. Because he was grateful, even if she had opened his eyes in the worst possible way.

"Did you succeed in talking with Hermione? I saw you laugh together at some point…"

He shrugged. "I guess we did." He honestly couldn't even recall. Had he talked to Hermione at some point? Had he made Watson laugh, now that he didn't care about her? Was it while Lucy had been dancing and he couldn't tear his eyes from her slender shape?

"What is it with you? I thought you were serious about this! Don't you like Hermione anymore?"

Gregory met her gaze, her beautiful, sparkling eyes which seemed so worried right now. He took in her cute little mouth, her delicate nose, her high cheekbones…

Lucy was such a sweet girl, so particularly gifted in mathematics, as a consequence of her very lonely childhood in which she had done little else but pour over numbers. However that didn't make her more mature, she was young, still underage when he would soon not be a minor. Gosh. What kind of man was he to leer on a girl so young?

And how could he? Wasn't he older than her own brother, the one that had been sent to a prestigious school, whatever his name was?

"I may have been wrong…"

Lucy's short gasp interrupted his whirlwind thoughts. She appeared dumbfounded, her mouth hanging open in shock. "Oh God… Gregory, how could you?"

Blinking a few times, Gregory wet his mouth as he recalled what he had just said. How could he be so careless and put his feet in his mouth so? He ought to be nicer to Lucy, she took everything so seriously — and although he loved that about her, this was really not the time for…

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just that… Lucy, sit down!"

She was already pushing all her files in her satchel, ready to flee the library. Gregory tried to catch her hands, to talk to her, but she shrugged him off. "I can't— I… I need to go!"

"Lucy!"

But she was already gone.

Gregory sat back down in a daze, observing the doorway through which she had just left. Goodness. Now what? He was so stupid. How could he be so stupid?

The chair in front of got pulled, a warm voice washing over him. "Let's go, Bridgerton."

"What?"

Gregory shook his head, before he looked up to see Gareth frowning at him. "I'm treating you to a drink," he said as if it was evident. "Come along, Bridgerton."

Gregory stomped his fist on the wooden table. "I need to tell her."

Gareth raised a brow, a mirthless smile on his mouth. "What?"

"That I have had enough of waiting!"

"You do that," his friend agreed readily.

Gregory swallowed his beer, obviously wasted as he gestured to the barman to refill his glass. "I'm gonna tell her," he started, "and then I will kiss her..."

"You should, she's a lovely girl," grinned Gareth, enjoying himself at Gregory's drunken sentences.

"Maybe I'll even tell Watson, that—"

Gareth's leer dropped. "Who are you talking about?"

"Who are you talking about?"

Two new beers were dropped in front of them, the old glasses taken away, as Gregory frowned deeply.

"I meant to tell Watson that I don't want her."

"Watson?" Gareth repeated, intrigued.

Eyes half closed, Gregory gulped his ale. "Yeah. I thought I liked Watson, but…"

"Don't you mean Abernathy?"

"Fuck me," said Gregory. "Does everyone know?"

Gareth smirked. "Hyacinth told me you were courting Abernathy. She never mentioned any Watson."

Gregory groaned. It would be just like his sister to be aware he was actually falling in love with his fake dating accomplice. And that he may actually never had loved Hermione. It would explain why it had been so difficult, since the start. How couldn't he have read the signs properly — what was the point in all his family's knowledge on matters of the heart if he couldn't use it? Some stupid man he was.

"I must tell her," Gregory concluded in a breath as he stood up. Because, what else could he do?

"I'll drop you," Gareth offered, deeply amused. "You're too drunk to go on your own."

"Lucy!"

"Shh!"

"I'm trying to wake her, you stupid oaf, she doesn't expect me!"

Gareth rolled his eyes. "Why don't you just call her?"

"She isn't allowed a phone at night," he said. "Her family sucks, they have sooo many rules."

"Seriously," Gareth sighed. "Who doesn't have a phone?"

"Well, Lucy," Gregory repeated, blinking in confusion. Hadn't he already said so?

"And you've been putting up with all that shit?"

"Well… You know…" Gregory shrugged. "It isn't the worst. I get to serenade her?"

"No wonder you've been busy," he chuckled. "You're a better man than I am, Bridgerton. How couldn't you see that you were in love with her while you were waiting under her window being Romeo?"

Gregory gawked at Gareth. Love. He had come to terms with the fact that he really liked Lucy, that he was even infatuated with her, maybe even more. But it was different being told so by someone else. Was it love, true love — as he had hoped it was with her friend? And would she accept him after putting up with all their stupid plans to get Hermione?

The window opened, a silhouette dressed in a white nightdress leaning slightly towards them.

"Gregory? What are you doing here?"

"Lucy," he breathed out in relief. "Lucy, I wanna marry you!"

"What?"

She gaped at them both, clearly at a loss for words, as Gregory, who was beginning to feel enthusiastic by the whole idea, started sprouting out ideas to make it happen, while Gareth coughed, probably to disguise his snickering, that traitor.

"We can drive to Scotland and…"

"You can't marry in the spur of the moment in Gretna Green anymore, you know," Lucy interrupted in a dazed voice.

"Okay where should we go then? Where can we?" Gregory turned to Gareth.

"Gibraltar, I think," the other boy shrugged.

"Would you like that, Lucy?"

But Lucy merely crossed her hands on her chest, shooting daggers at Gareth. "Did you plan to elope anytime soon St. Clair?"

Her tone triggered an alarm in Gregory's head. "Why are you asking him in such a tone? Gareth's my friend, you know."

"Classmate," muttered Gareth, unhelpfully. Gregory waved his answer away. It really wasn't the time for semantics.

Lucy sighed. "Gregory, if you must know… I've agreed to fake-date you to help you with Hermione — but also so that Hyacinth and Gareth had a chance to spend time together."

"Whaaat?"

Gareth, who seemed equally astonished by this, raised his hands in surrender. "I had no part in this. I swear, I didn't even know!"

"What do you want with my sister?"

His friend, who hadn't expected this question, stared at Gregory uneasy. "I—" He looked up at Lucy, but she had disappeared from the frame. "I—"

The back door opened swiftly, Lucy rushing out. "Okay, I'm here, don't kill each other because I didn't think it through before talking."

She came to stand between them, wrapping herself in a black shawl she must have caught on the way down.

Gregory dropped his head in his hands. "This is starting to be very confusing, and I'm afraid I drank too much to be of much use."

Kindly, Lucy caught his hand off his face. "I'll handle it for you."

"I love you," he sighed in appreciation, his eyes boring into hers softly.

"So you've mentioned."

"But I really do. You're like the sun in my life, you make everything brighter and I want to kiss you so damn much, and maybe more…" His gaze darkened, following the length of her. "Definitely more."

"Oh-kay…" Lucy stepped back a bit, letting go of his hand to instead put her hands on her hips as she faced Gareth. "Felicity has it on good authority that you have been pining for Hy. And since you seemed serious, I was asked to distract Gregory." She swatted his hands that were trying to grab her bottom. "Stop it now, Greg."

"But," he whined, hugging her waist instead. "Don't you like me too?"

Lucy caressed his hair as she rolled her eyes. "He really should be put to bed."

"I'll take care of him. We can even continue this discussion tomorrow," Gareth snorted.

"St. Clair," glowered Lucy with a grimace.

"Fine yes, I do like Hyacinth. Thank you for your matchmaking, I guess."

"Well, I'm relieved," Lucy suspired. "I've been berating myself the whole evening because of, well, him…" She pointed towards Gregory who was snuggling her middle. "Although I'm not sure Gregory will remember everything, it's good enough for me."

Gareth shrugged. "Who told you?"

"Felicity. And her sister."

"Pen? Makes sense," Gareth nodded, understandingly.

As they helped Gregory into Gareth's car, he grabbed the other boy's arm. "St. Clair, if you hurt my sister—"

"I won't."

"Good." He let him go, turned to Lucy. "I'll talk to you in the morning. Thanks for agreeing to marry me."

Lucy blinked in confusion. "I'm pretty sure I didn't…"

"Well, you didn't disagree either," Gregory answered as he fastened his seat belt with unsteady fingers.

Gareth bumped his head on the wheel as he started laughing in earnest. "Honestly. This is why Bridgerton is a fun one to hang out with."

"Oh, be nice, St. Clair," Lucy scolded. "He's my friend."

"I'm your boyfriend!" Gregory interjected.

"Not for real, actually," she told with a sigh. "I'll have to concede to Felicity, I think she called all the shots."

Gregory shook his head, a disappointed look crossing his face. "Really. Are none of my friends actually honest except me?"

"You?" Lucy snorted. "Who decided to fake-date a girl's best friend to win her?"

"And asked another person to help your sister while you were fake courting?"

"And who proposed inebriated before the first date?"

"And who will probably forget about all of this tomorrow?"

"Well," Gregory conceded. "I may have been doing a bunch of dumb things. But you should all honestly thank me!"

"Really?" Gareth arched a dubious brow. "How come?"

"We're all one step closer to our happy ending thanks to me." He rested his hand on Lucy's. "That is, if you decide you like me back."

"I—"

"I hope you know by now Lucy that I won't take no for an answer. I won't back down, and if this is what it takes, I'll fake-date Gareth to make you jealous."

Lucy's eyes danced with mirth and she laughed as he knew she would.

"Honestly Bridgerton," Gareth huffed a heavy sigh, before turning to the young girl. "I'll be sure to drop him by tomorrow. He'll be all yours."

"All mine," she smiled sweetly, Gregory's heart missing a beat. "I think I'd like that." No one else was able to do dumb things with him the way she could. He couldn't wait for what they could create together if they decided to.

And Gregory knew right then that he had been right; love, true love was that simple. And he would wait for Lucy. Forever if he needed to.